Recent appearances:PCGS MS-63. Ex - Superior
Galleries' "Pre-Long Beach Sale" May 27-29, 2001, Lot 4044,
where it was described as follows: "1823 Breen-6481. PCGS graded
Mint State 63. A coin that aptly deserve this outstanding grade since the
fields are vibrantly alive with glittering luster and, on the whole,
frosty though with some reflective quality in areas. Rims are defect free
as are all stars, which are refreshingly complete in their radials.
Brilliant yellow gold without tarnish or haymarking as so often seen. The
coin is on a par with a similarly graded example sold in a Heritage sale
in January 1998 (lot 7776) and one that we offered in our June 1998
pre-Long Beach sale, lot 2179. Coin is housed in PCGS holder 10002503.
In the National Archives there is reference to public assays (Paris, 1831)
at one of which some 40,000 U.S. Half Eagles of "recent mintage"
(Presumably the elusive 1815-30 dates) were melted and found to be of full
weight and fineness. This was undoubtedly only one instance among many
such extensive meltings in the 1830s and 1840s."